Enjoyed on tap at the Eccentric cafe - I'm revamping notes from about 8 months ago, finally found what I did with them. Pours a pretty dense looking black color with only the slightest bit of dark brown coming alive at the very edges. The head was fine-bubbled, creamy, and showed nice retention and minimal lacing.

Powerful and characteristic aromas - roasted malts, so roasted they are nearly bittering, light coffee and sweet cocoa, a bit of charcoal. Hops are delicate but aggressive and noticeable; herbal and leafy, providing another nice bitterness attack.

Like the aroma, the flavor is heavy, dense, and thick. Black licorice and anise come out on the palate, though they weren't big on the nose. Burnt and roasted chocolate malts, dry espresso beans - the cocoa seems to be pretty subdued compared to the rest of the flavors.

Hops don't contribute much to the profile other than a slightly ashy bitterness. Light char notes are still there, but not quite enough to give it a campfire or smokey flavor. Nice clash of sweetness and bitterness, exactly what I like in my stouts. Thick body with low carbonation, silky and overall pretty smooth on the palate.

Hot damn, certainly a powerful stout. It's been a while since I had this one and I am trying to live vicariously through notes I took so many months ago. I'd like to have this one again when I visit Bell's next. But I do remember it being damn good. Better than Expedition? Not in my opinion. But I'd like to have this one again to be sure.

Smells really good with a blast of hops and roasted malt. I get a little coffee as well.

Taste like a black IPA with a third stout poured in. Really good and strong. The hops get you up front and the roasted malt comes on the back end for a nice brutal finish. There is nothing soft about this beer. It's in your face!

pours an opaque black, tight small tan head. The nose is more like a black ipa, slightly burnt malt with notes of licorice, sweet hop, citric and herbal, almost a touch tea like. The flavor is similar, more roasted malt and coffee with the strong hop presence in the second half. A touch less tea like and a bit more stout like than the nose with a full body, a hint oily, with nice carb.